Tony Luke's to open Monday in Allentown

The first Lehigh Valley outpost of the growing Philadelphia-based Tony Luke's cheesesteak chain will open Monday in Allentown.

The first Lehigh Valley outpost of the growing Philadelphia-based Tony Luke's cheesesteak chain will open Monday in Allentown. (RYAN KNELLER/THE MORNING CALL)

Scott Kraus

Leave the cheesesteak, get the roast pork

The first Lehigh Valley outpost of the growing Philadelphia-based Tony Luke’s cheesesteak chain will finally open Monday in Allentown.

Tony Luke Jr. himself will be on hand at noon to cut an authentic Philly cheesesteak to officially open the eatery, located at 806 Hamilton Street, less than a block from PPL Center, Allentown’s new downtown arena.

The restaurant, known for its cheesesteaks and Italian roast pork sandwiches, also makes fresh-cut fries, chicken cutlet sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches and burgers. It’s expected to be open for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night hours.

It’s the latest in a series of new restaurants to open downtown in the city’s Neighborhood Improvement Zone as new office buildings and arena events such as hockey games, concerts and monster truck shows add new customers to city streets.

The company is a tenant of City Center Investment Corp., the developer that is leading the city’s downtown building spree. Tony Luke’s 806 Hamilton Street building is one of several storefront properties the developer purchased to be rehabilitated into downtown restaurants and retail.

Roar Social House, an upscale bistro that includes a speakeasy called Hush, opened in September at 732 Hamilton Street, another property purchased and renovated under City Center’s direction.

Additional eateries, including a revamped version of the popular Federal Grill in the 500 block of Hamilton Street, and a garage style bar-and-grill at 8th and Linden Streets, are on the drawing board.

Other City Center properties include the Two City Center office building, which houses the headquarters of National Penn Bancshares, a Renaissance Hotel attached to PPL Center and One City Center, which houses Lehigh Valley Health Network’s sports and fitness center.